Info The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs the Motorola Droid MAXX

The Motorola Droid MAXX is the biggest smart phone on offer from Motorola right now. It was released in July 2013 along with the Motorola Droid Ultra and Motorola Droid Mini and is most probably called ‘MAXX’ because of its huge battery. All in all, it’s a pretty decent smart phone. But how does it stack up against the big boys? Considering the fact that it lost by 3 points to 2 against the Samsung Galaxy Note II, I don’t expect too much from the Motorola Droid MAXX in this comparison. Anyway, let’s see how it goes...

As far as size is concerned, the Galaxy Note 3 is significantly bigger, but not without good reason. After all, it has a much larger display. The Galaxy Note 3 measures 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm while the Droid MAXX measures 137.5 x 71.2 x 8.5 mm. The only thing worth mentioning here is that the Galaxy Note 3 is a little thinner than the Droid MAXX. In terms of weight, the Galaxy Note 3 is a solitary gram heavier than the Droid MAXX at 168 g.

There isn’t too much to separate both these smart phones in this point and that’s why it’s a draw.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Zero / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Display

When it comes to the display, the Galaxy Note 3 is far superior to the Droid MAXX. It comes with a 5.7” Super AMOLED touch screen while the Droid MAXX comes with a 5.0” AMOLED touch screen. In terms of pixel density the Galaxy Note 3 comes with 386 ppi while the Droid MAXX is severely lacking at 294 ppi. And when it comes to maximum resolution, the Galaxy Note 3 has a max resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels while the Droid MAXX has a max resolution of just 1,280 x 720 pixels. That’s quite disappointing indeed.

This point goes to the Galaxy Note 3.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - One / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Memory & Storage

In terms of memory, the Galaxy Note 3 currently comes with an industry leading 3 GB of RAM while the Droid MAXX has a commendable 2 GB of RAM. But when it comes to storage, there are very few smart phones that can even come close to Samsung let alone beat them. The Galaxy Note 3 comes with either 32 or 64 GB of internal storage while the Droid MAXX comes with 16 or 32 GB of storage. But what seals the deal for the Galaxy Note 3 is the fact that it accepts expandable storage up to 64 GB as well.

This point definitely goes to the Galaxy Note 3.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Two / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Camera

The camera on the Galaxy Note 3 is quite impressive when you consider the fact that it’s a 13 MP shooter. But what makes it so impressive is not its photographing ability but its video recording ability. The Galaxy Note 3 is the first smart phone which lets you record videos at 4K. Apart from this, it also lets you record at 1080p with an amazing frame rate of 60 fps. This can make almost any camera look weak and the 10 MP shooter on the Droid MAXX never stood a chance against this behemoth. It does support 1080 p video recording at a frame of 60 fps though. But that is a mere consolation.

This is the third point in a row for Samsung.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Three / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

OS & Performance

The Galaxy Note 3 comes with the latest Android 4.3 (JellyBean) operating system while the Droid MAXX comes with the older Android 4.2.2 (JellyBean). There isn’t too much between both smart phones when it comes to their operating systems. But when you compare their hardware, the Galaxy Note 3 proves that it is clearly a next generation smart phone. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chip and quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400 processor. The Motorola X8 chip and dual core, 1700 MHz processor on the Droid MAXX doesn’t stand a chance here. Even when it comes to the graphics, the Galaxy Note 3 has an Adreno 330 processor as compared to the Droid MAXX which has a 400 MHz, quad core processor.

The difference between both smart phones is so obvious that I don’t even have to justify why the Galaxy Note 3 gets this point.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Four / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Battery

Finally a point where the Droid MAXX shows some resilience. It comes with a huge 3,500 mAh battery while the Galaxy Note 3 comes with a 3,200 mAh battery. Unfortunately, the huge battery on the Droid MAXX offers a standby time of just 25 days. That is hardly outstanding considering it has such a large battery. There is no information available regarding the standby time of the Galaxy Note 3 but considering the fact that the Galaxy Note II has a standby time of 40.8 days, I’m guessing the Galaxy Note 3 will have a better standby time than just 25 days.

But still, I don’t think it would be fair to award this point to either smart phone without all the details. This point’s a draw.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Four / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Price

The Galaxy Note 3 is supposed to cost somewhere around $ 700 (free of contract) which is a little high, but the smart phone is definitely worth the price tag. But when it comes to the Droid MAXX which costs $ 650 (free of contract), I can’t say the same. Yes, it is cheaper than the Galaxy Note 3, but it doesn’t have enough to command $ 650. While the Droid MAXX is cheaper, it definitely isn’t value for money. But the Galaxy Note 3 costs more.

I think the best course of action here is to call this one a draw.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Four / Motorola Droid MAXX - Zero)

Conclusion

While the Samsung Galaxy Note II won against the Motorola Droid MAXX by 3 points to 2, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has thrashed it by 4 points to 0. The only points where the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 couldn’t win are the size, battery and price. But, the Galaxy Note 3 hasn’t lost a single point which, in my opinion, counts for something. If you had to choose between both these smart phones, go with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, you won’t be disappointed. And for Motorola loyalists, I guess you will have to wait a little longer for Motorola to release an industry leading smart phone.